CANTON, NY – The run continues for the University of Rochester squash team, as the Yellowjackets claimed their seventh straight Liberty League Tournament title, defeating host St. Lawrence University 6-3 at the Robie Squash Center on Sunday afternoon.
 
After trailing 3-2 after five matches, 21st-ranked and top-seeded URochester closed strong, winning the final four matches on court to earn the victory. The title is the 13th Liberty League crown in program history, extending the lead for most ever men's squash titles in conference history.
 
Sunday's contest was back-and-forth throughout, with only one match ending in a 3-0 sweep, that being the first match of the contest at nine. In that match, SLU's Dmitry Stepanenko topped UR's Sam Knoll 11-2, 11-0 and 11-8.
 
The next matches on court were seven, six and one, with the Yellowjackets taking the opening games in two of those matches. The tides turned though, as St. Lawrence the next few games in those contests to look like they would take a commanding lead in the early going.
 
URochester rebounded though, with co-captain Van Inman-Benavente rallying for a four-game win at seven against Athrva Yadav. After falling 11-4 in the opening game, the 'Jackets co-captain secured 11-9, 11-3 and 11-3 wins to level the team match on the scoreboard.
 
At six, Karim Moataz fell behind 2-1 to Harrison Callaway after three games, but secured 11-9 wins in both the fourth and fifth games to earn a clutch point for the Yellowjackets.
 
The match at one then went to St. Lawrence, leveling the overall score at 2-2, as Mina Yousef rattled off three straight wins against Gilberto Aceves Moreno. The UR first-year won 11-2 in the opening game, but three close games went in favor of Yousef, 11-7, 14-12 and 14-16 to earn the point.
 
Up next, St. Lawrence edged in front when Patrick Walford topped Kareem Azzam in four games at the four slot, winning 6-11, 11-6, 13-11 and 11-7.
 
The rest of the matches went in favor of URochester though, eventually reaching the final score of 6-3.
 
UR's comeback started with first-year Arjith Mathew earning an 11-5, 11-3, 3-11, and 11-8 win over Alexander Scott at fifth singles.
 
Sophomore Preston Wu kept the 'Jacket momentum going at eight with his win against Gavin Cassidy. Wu dopped the opening game 11-7, but came back strong, winning 11-3, 11-4 and 11-3 to earn the go-ahead point.
 
Shortly after, junior co-captain Dhirren Rajarathinam earned the championship-clinching victory at number two. He won the opening two games 11-4 against Miguel Posada Villa, but stumbled in the third 7-11 before settling back in for an 11-6 fourth-game win to wrap up the victory.
 
Closing things out strong was Thomas Valderrama at number three with a four-game win over Emirhan Sen (8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6).
 
The Yellowjackets have one final regular-season game, set for next Wednesday at home against Cornell before shifting focus to the upcoming College Squash Association Team Championships, taking place from February 27 through March 1 in Philadelphia.